Chapter 2

Six years later…

Georgina POV

“Andrea!” I saw her giggle and keep running away.

I chase behind her, and she seems to enjoy it.

We are playing in our backyard.

She just has finished her lectures.

She is homeschooled due to her status.

As a hidden daughter of the Del Fuente heiress.

“Mommy, catch me if you can!”

I smiled and tried to catch her.

“Waah!” I tickle her.

“Mommy! Stop! Hahaha,” I stop and hug her.

“You’ve been playful lately,” she pouted. I pinch her cheeks because my daughter is so cute.

“Our house is boring; I want to go outside.” I sigh.

“You know we can only go outside once a week, right?” She nodded.

“But I wanted to experience playing in playgrounds, stay longer in malls, and have a complete family.” I was hurt upon seeing my child’s eye longing for that day.

“Andrea, Mommy promises you to have a normal life, okay? You should trust me and wait for that day to come. Mommy is fixing some things.”

“How about Daddy? I didn't see him since I was a baby.” I look away. I feel sorry for my daughter. This is all my fault.

“He will arrive so soon. Just wait.” She smiled happily again.

“I can’t wait that day to come, Mommy! I would be the happiest girl if that happened.”

She ran outside and played with her nanny.

My smile faded; how come I’ll break that kind of happiness?

How come I can lie to my child?

I pick up my phone when someone calls.

“Hello?” I hear a sigh; they can’t track the man I slept with again.

“Sorry, ma’am, the night's CCTV footage was deleted for some reason; we can’t also track him since he is so anonymous.” I hang up the call.

This is so bad.

“Mama!” I looked inside and saw my parents. Why didn’t they call?

“Mommy?” She smiled at me and hugged me.

I know something is off.

“Mama! Mommy says my daddy will arrive so soon! I am excited to see him already!” Mommy looks at me and gives me a can-you-explain look.

“Your mommy said that, princess?” Daddy lifted her, and my daughter nodded happily.

“Yes, papa!” I saw how Dad looked at me.

“You can go in your room, princess; the maid already brought all our gifts up there.” Andrea gently asks her grandpa to bring her down. Her nanny went with her because she needed to walk upstairs.

“It is not a good idea to lie to your kid!” Mom says problematic.

“But I can’t tell her the truth. She is too young for that,” I argued.

“So, lying that her father will arrive soon is best?” I started pacing back and forth.

“I will hire a husband.” They both look at me like I have two heads.

“Are you crazy?” I sat down and held my head.

“That is the last thing I can do,” I whispered.

Dad sighs so loud.

“Make sure you can do it within this week.” I look up at him.

“That fast? Dad, I should know that person first, and a week is not enough.” He shook his head and gave me those stern eyes.

“You should do it! The board of directors wanted to see you so soon.” I started to fidget with my fingers. How can I do that within a short period?

“What if I failed to do that?”

“You can’t inherit the Company; they will do their best to seek an effective CEO. I may be the owner of the Company, and I will do my duty to keep it on top. I will retire soon and need you to return to the US with no problem.” I just nodded, even though I wanted to oppose the idea.

“Okay, Dad.” Mom holds my hand.

“We don’t have a choice, honey,” I smiled at Mom and held her hand.

“You’ve done so much, Dad and Mom; it’s my time to turn in all the favors.” They smiled at me and hugged me.

“That’s my daughter….” I think it’s my time to make them proud.

Mom and Dad dropped by us because they will attend a business meeting here in Singapore.

They bid goodbye already after eating lunch.

“Mommy, Papa says we will go back to the US?” I nodded at her.

“Mommy needs to work at your mama and papa’s company.”

“That means I can now go to school?”

“Yes,” She jumps happily.

“Finally!” I watch her celebrate.

“When will Daddy arrives for me to surprise him with a letter and a banner!”

“I will let you know, baby,”

She hugs me tightly.

“Thank you for making me happy, Mommy, but I would be happier if we were complete.” I hug her back.

I will do everything for you, my sunshine, even though I'll marry a stranger.

I am preparing some of the documents. I sigh as I need to pay the people who work hard to find the man I slept with.

I massage my temple.

I only have a few days to find a man.

I instructed my men to find a suitable man willing to pretend as my husband, yet they always failed.

Some wanted a large sum, and some thought the work was ridiculous.

Who wouldn’t? This is absurd.

I do my work, forgetting the thing I need to do.

Dad let me do some Company work for me to catch up.

Dad just needed to attend meetings, and I prepared everything he required beforehand.

As long as Dad wanted me to focus on caring for my child, I insisted on doing some work.

I also engage in attending online seminars and lectures to widen my knowledge.

“Mom?” I look at my daughter; she is barely half-sleep.

“Yes, baby?” She walks inside my office while hugging her favorite teddy bear.

“Are you busy?”

“No, come here.” She walks towards me, and I make her sit on my lap.

I tap her back and swing my swivel chair.

“Why are you still awake?”

“I already fell asleep but woke up.” She yawned.

“You want mommy to hum a song?”

“Yes, Mommy,” I started to hum as I patted her back.

Just like that, my daughter falls asleep.

I look outside the window.

Time flies so fast.

It was just like yesterday,

The first time I hold her in my arms.

The days I lacked sleep because my baby needed attention.

I am afraid that someday she will get married soon.

I think I am not ready to let her go.

I laugh at my craziness.

I know decades will pass before that happens.

I lift my daughter and tuck her into her bed.

I fixed her hair before kissing her forehead.

“Have a goodnight's sleep, baby,”

I fixed her toys that were scattered on the floor.

I think she played alone again.

As I picked up the litter, I saw a paper.

“Dear Santa, thank you for fulfilling my wish last Christmas. I know it's still summer and too early to send you this letter, but I badly wanted to thank you. From Scarlett Andrea”

I look at my daughter sleeping peacefully in bed and look at the letter again.

She’s grown up.

I put the letter on the pink sock hanging on the window. I will change it with candy later.

Yes, baby, I am your Santa.

I took a bath after cleaning her room.

I let myself relax and enjoy the warm bath.

I will start my duty tomorrow.

But I can’t make a plan for how I find a man.

I will make sure that man is good with kids and family-oriented.

After changing clothes, I decided to sleep in my daughter’s room.

She is still hugging the teddy bear.

Dad gave it, but she believes it was from her ‘daddy.’

You longed for too long, baby; Mommy will take her action as soon as possible.